CVE-2014-0107: Xalan Improper Authorization Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-rc2w-r4jq-7pfx
Share
CWE-285
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2014-0107 is a HIGH improper authorization vulnerability (CWE-285: Improper Authorization) affecting Xalan libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper authorization in apache xalan-java. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.7.2.

CVE-2014-0107 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2014-0107
GHSA Identifier GHSA-rc2w-r4jq-7pfx
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-285: Improper Authorization
Affected Product Xalan
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2014-0107

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Xalan dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

xalan:xalan fixed: 2.7.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>xalan</groupId>
    <artifactId>xalan</artifactId>
    <version>2.7.2</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=xalan

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2014-0107, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=xalan

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Xalan in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.7.2), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=xalan command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-285: Improper Authorization, where the product does not perform or incorrectly performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. In Xalan, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

The TransformerFactory in Apache Xalan-Java before 2.7.2 does not properly restrict access to certain properties when FEATURE_SECURE_PROCESSING is enabled, which allows remote attackers to bypass expected restrictions and load arbitrary classes or access external resources via a crafted (1) xalan:content-header, (2) xalan:entities, (3) xslt:content-header, or (4) xslt:entities property, or a Java property that is bound to the XSLT 1.0 system-property function.

CVE-2014-0107 Affected Xalan Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.7.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
xalan:xalan
maven/xalan/xalan
Maven
< 2.7.2
2.7.2

References

NVD — CVE-2014-0107 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-0107
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/920... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/92023
Xalan Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/xalan-java
h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/pu... WEB
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05324755
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/xalanj-... WEB
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/XALANJ-2435
lists.apache.org/thread.html/519eb0f... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/519eb0fd45642dcecd9ff74cb3e71c20a4753f7d82e2f07864b5108f@%3Cdev.drill.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/b0656d3... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/b0656d359c7d40ec9f39c8cc61bca66802ef9a2a12ee199f5b0c1442@%3Cdev.drill.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r0c00af... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r0c00afcab8f238562e27b3ae7b8af1913c62bc60838fb8b34c19e26b@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r290048... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2900489bc665a2e32d021bb21f6ce2cb8e6bb5973490eebb9a346bca@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
Xalan Security Information SECURITY
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201604-02
Xalan Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html
Xalan Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html
Xalan Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.html
Xalan Security Information SECURITY
https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2018-15
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2014-03... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-0348.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2014-13... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-1351.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2015-18... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1888.html
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1581058
www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss WEB
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21674334
www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss WEB
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21676093
www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss WEB
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21677145
www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss WEB
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21680703
www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss WEB
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21681933
Xalan Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2014/dsa-2886
www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss WEB
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21677967
www.ocert.org/advisories/ocert-20... WEB
http://www.ocert.org/advisories/ocert-2014-002.html
Xalan Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2017-3236626.html
Xalan Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpujan2016-2367955.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2014-0107?
CVE-2014-0107 is a security vulnerability in Xalan involving Improper Authorization in Apache Xalan-Java under CWE-285: Improper Authorization.
Which Xalan versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.7.2 across affected packages: xalan:xalan.
What version fixes CVE-2014-0107?
Upgrading to 2.7.2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is xalan affected?
Yes, xalan:xalan is affected in releases prior to 2.7.2. Upgrade your dependency to 2.7.2 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2014-0107?
CVE-2014-0107 is classified under CWE-285: Improper Authorization (The product does not perform or incorrectly performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2014-0107?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=xalan'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
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  "id" : "GHSA-rc2w-r4jq-7pfx",
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  "summary" : "Improper Authorization in Apache Xalan-Java",
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  }, {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201604-02"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2018-15"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-0348.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-1351.html"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1888.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1581058"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21674334"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21676093"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21677145"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21681933"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.debian.org/security/2014/dsa-2886"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21677967"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.ocert.org/advisories/ocert-2014-002.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  "database_specific" : {
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    "severity" : "HIGH",
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    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-07T23:02:09Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2014-04-15T23:13:00Z"
  }
}